Picker-stick check



Feb. 12, 1963 s. J. MAURICE 3, 7

PICKER-STICK CHECK Filed Nov. 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheep 1 i f 5 INVENTOR SYLVIO J'- MAUR l CE ATTORNEY Feb. 12, 1963 s. J. MAURICE 3,077,210

PICKER-STICK CHECK Filed Nov. 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT'OR SYLVIO J. MAURICE BY ywvz m ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,9772% Patented Feb. 12, 1953 3,077,210 lECEZER-STECK CHEUK Sylvie .l. Maurice, '79 Hunt St, Qentral Falls, Rd. Filed Nov. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 63,299 7 Qlaims. C3. 1339-165) This invention relates to a picker-stick check for a fly shuttle loom, and relates more particularly to the type of picker-slick check in which an endless, flexible band or check strap of leather or other material is arranged to encircle the path of the picker-stick and automatic means is provided to cause the check strap to intermittently creep or rotate to present new surfaces to the action of the picker-stick with each stroke, thereby greatly prolonging the life of the check strap.

More specifically, the instant invention is directed to the friction means associated with a picker-stick check which will cause the blow of the picker-stick to be ab sorbed gradually from the time the picker-stick engages the check strap until the picker-stick is fully stopped at the end of its path of travel.

Picker-stick checking heretofore has been carried out in various types of mechanisms employing one or more check straps of the endless variety. These endless type check straps have been mounted so that the check strap is passed between friction fingers to form an elongated loop, the ends of which loop engage the picker-stick at opposite ends of its swing and serve to check the momentum of the stick by means of sliding friction created by the friction fingers. In these constructions, the pickerstick moves at a high rate of speed and when the opposite ends of the loop are struck, the blow occurs repeatedly in the same or substantially the same area of the strap resulting in excessive strain and undue wear. Also, the check strap rubs against the friction fingers along approximately the same area of contact which results in excessive wear also on the contact surfaces.

Various attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages but they have all resulted in damage to the check strap or failure to properly arrest the picker stick. Furthermore, it has been necessary to either replace the check straps frequently or to make them of an unduly heavy construction.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved picker-stick check which will be free from the foregoing and other disadvantages, and which will be especially simple in construction and efficient in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pickerstick check wherein excessive wear in localized areas of the check strap will be eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pickerstick ch ck employing novel friction means bearing against the check strap thus rendering the device thoroughly practical, durable and very easy for the loom attendant to care for.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a picker-stick check wherein the friction means may be conveniently and accurately adjusted.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved picker-stick check which will enable the check strap to move progressively between the friction means in such a manner that the strap will move in the same direction a short distance upon each impact of the pickerstick.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an arresting means on the picker-stick checking mechanism to prevent the check strap from moving backwards there by assuring that the portions of the check strap struck by the picker-stick are constantly changing.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, together which certain details of construction and combination of parts, will appear from the following detailed description and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein several embodiments of this invention are shown,

FiGURE l is a plan view looking upward toward the bottom of the lay beam and slot within which the pickerstick moves,

FIGURE 2 is a view in front elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view illustrating another embodiment of the instant invention;

FEGURE 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of this invention, and particularly to FIGURES l, 2 and 3 wherein the preferred embodiment is shown, reference numeral It designates the lay beam of a loom, which is usually made of wood. The lay beam is provided with slot 1?; within which picker-stick 12 shown in cross section moves, as is welhknown in the art. Brackets 13 and 14 are suitably mounted on the opposite sides of the lay beam by means of conventional bolts 15 passing through slots II of the brackets.

The bracket 13 is arranged to support and guide a check strap 16 without any clamping action. To this end the bracket 13 is provided with a pair of upstanding projections 1'7, 13 for supporting the check strap 16 thereon. The check strap is preferably formed from leather; however, it may be made from any suitable woven material. The bracket 14 is provided with spaced flanges 19 and 2% as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, for additionally supporting and guiding the check strap.

Bracket 13 is also provided with means for arresting the movement of the strap. Thus said bracket has a portion 21 which extends below and fits against the bottom of the lay it), and has a flange 22 which extends upwardly a ainst the side of the lay beam. A forwardly extending flange 23 on bracket 13 is provided with a suitable aperture for receiving a depending spindle 24 for supporting elements of the device of this invention, said spindle being secured to flange 23 by means of a suitable washer 25 and nut 26. The nut 25 has an additional function which will be described more fully hereinafter.

Rotatably mounted on spindle 24 is a bushing 27, said bushing being held on the spindle by means of a conventional nut 23 and set screw 29. The check strap arresting means is in the form of a serrated detent member 3'8 which bears against the check strap 16. As clearly seen in FIGURE 3, the detent member 3%) is integral with bushing 27. The bushing and attached detent member are preferably mounted to swing partially about the axis of spindle 2 in such a manner that the serrated portion of the detent 3b is constantly bearing against: the check strap 16. To this end, the rotation of the bushing is limited by a tension spring 3?. afiixed at one end to spindle 24 and suitably secured at its other end to a portion of bushing 27. The function of the detent is such that it tends to move into engagement with the strap, and thereby permits the strap to move only in one direction, movement in the opposite direction being prevented by the detent.

The novel friction member of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 2 and includes a hub member 32, rotatably mounted on spindle 24 and seated on a top flange 33 of the bushing 27. A laterally projecting curved portion 34 provided with a vertical, extension 35 is associated with the hub and bears against the strap 16 in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. Inasmuch as the hub 32 is rotatably mounted on the spindle, it is necessary to control its motion so that the curved portion 34 is constantly bearing against the strap. For this purpose a heavy duty coiled tension spring 3 is employed, said spring'being suitably secured at one end to spindle 24 and held in place on said spindle by a flanged member 37. As clearly shown in FIGURE 2, the spring 36 is provided with a laterally extending portion 38 having a looped end 39. In accordance with this invention, the loop 39 of. the spring is secured about the upstanding projection 35. The tension of spring 36 causes the curved portion 34 associated with hub 32 to bear against the strap, the spring permitting slight rotation of the hub 32 but only in a counterclockwise direction toward the check strap 16.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, an upstanding spindle so, similar to spindle 24, is suitably mounted on flange 19 of bracket 14. The spindle supports a rotatably mounted bushing 41 provided with a serrated detent member 42, the said bushing and detent functioning in the same manner as the heretofore described members 27, 3d mounted on bracket 13.

It will be obvious that the detents 3%, t2 operated alternatively upon opposite sides of the check strap 16, one holding and the other releasing the check strap when the picker-stick moves in one direction, and vice versa on the reverse movement of the picker-stick. The detents also cooperate with the projection 17, 18 and flanges 19, 2d to'prevent improper up and down movement of the check strap 16. It will be appreciated that as soon as the pull of the check strap opposite to the stress of the detent spring is relaxed, the spring 31 acts to return the detent to normal position in engagement with the check strap.

The friction member is placed in operative position in the following manner: The curved portion 34, is placed against the strap 16 and then the desired tension is applied to spring 36. To this end, the nut 26 is grasped by a wrench or pair of pliers and then the spring 36 is tightly wound by means of a suitable tool. It will be appreciated that the desired tension will be communicated to curved portion 34, inasmuch as the loop 39 of the spring is secured to the projection 35 of said curved portion. The amount of humidity in the mill at the time the initial adjustment of the spring is made determines the amount of tension necessary for the friction member to operate properly. Inasmuch as the curved portion 34 is constantly bearing against the strap 16, it will thereafter adjust itself to the strap depending upon the amount of moisture in the strap.

In the modification shown in FIGURES 4 to 6, the tensioning of the spring by means of a tool is eliminated. In this embodiment a handle 43 is employed to tension the spring. The same procedure as outlined above is repeated except that the handle 43 is depressed until the desired tension is applied to the spring 36 and member 34.

Once the proper tension is applied to the spring as, device is in operative position. As the picker-stick 12 moves toward the left in FIGURE 2, its force, as it hits the left side of the strap 16, will cause the strap to pull against member 34. Inasmuch as curved portion 34 is not rigid and pivots with hub member 32 about spindle 2 1, the said curved portion will give slightly thus permitting the strap to creep or move slightly to the left. Simultaneously, the arresting or detent member 42 mounted on bracket 14 on the other side of the strap will prevent the strap from moving backwards or counterclockwise. When the picker-stick moves to the right, the detent member 52 pivots slightly about spindle 44 thereby releasing the strap and a slight slack is apparent on the right side of the looped strap, this amount of slack actually being the distance the strap 16 moves when the pickerstick again moves to the lett. Thus it can be seen that by employing the novel friction and arresting means of this invention, the picker-stick is engaging the strap at different positions or surfaces as the strap is moved clockwise during each cycle of the oscillating picker-stick, thereby prolonging the life of the check strap.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is hereby claimed to be new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fiy shuttle loom wherein a picker-stick operates within and is adapted to strike an endless check strap, a bracket is attached to said loom, and arresting means is provided on said bracket for preventing backward movement of the check strap on the rearward movement of the picker-stick, the improvement which comprises providing said bracket With a friction member for applying tension to said check strap, means for rotatably supporting said friction member on said bracket, and spring means for urging said friction member into contact with said check strap.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the friction member is rotatably mounted on a depending spindle supported by said bracket and is provided with laterally extending curved portion for hearing against said check strap.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein the friction member is provided with a vertical upstanding integral projection on the curved portion adapted to engage the spring means.

4. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein means are provided to vary the tension of the curved portion of the friction member on the check strap.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4- wherein said means for varying the tension includes a depressible handle.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the handle is operatively connected to said spindle.

7. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein the arresting means is rotatably mounted on the spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 987,915 Rhoades Mar. 28, 1911 1,394,265 Andrews et a1 Oct. 18, 1921 1,801,542 Davis Apr. 21, 1931 

1. IN A FLY SHUTTLE LOOM WHEREIN A PICKER-STICK OPERATES WITHIN AND IS ADAPTED TO STRIKE AN ENDLESS CHECK STRAP, A BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO SAID LOOM, AND ARRESTING MEANS IS PROVIDED ON SAID BRACKET FOR PREVENTING BACKWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CHECK STRAP ON THE REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE PICKER-STICK, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES PRO- 